Common Narrates Video for Starbucks’ Day of Racial Bias Training

Common is never shy about using his platform to speak on important issues and events regarding injustice and racism, and in light of a recent incident at a Starbucks in Philadelphia that led to the controversial arrest of two black men, the company has asked the rapper to join their effort for reform.

The "Stand Up for Something" rapper appeared on Good Morning America earlier today (May 29), where he spoke on his role of narrating the video for Starbucks' day of training, which took place today, to teach employees how to avoid "racial bias" and discrimination. During the GMA interview, Common says that he wanted to be part of the conversation and elaborates on his relationship with Starbucks' executive chairman Howard Schultz.

"Starbucks was just a microcosm of how black people have been dehumanized and I wanted to be a part of that conversation," he says. "It's important that you have a black man standing up and saying what we need and just being...with Howard Schultz, I had a relationship with him because he first approached me talking about actually right after Michael Brown was killed. And one of the things, one of the initiatives, I worked with him on was getting jobs for people in underserved communities."

The veteran MC also says that while the conversation is important to have following the incident, he also explains that he ultimately wants to see action.

"I know that his heart is in the right place, but it has to be more than just the conversation, which I think that the conversation today is a step, but for me, as a black man, we want to see action," he explains.

Common also says that Starbucks is an example of holding others accountable for their actions, but it also comes down to each of us doing the same.

"We gotta hold Starbucks accountable," he state. "We gotta hold political officials accountable, any businesses that we support, And we gotta hold ourselves accountable. That's why I'm a part of this conversation."

Watch Common's full interview with Good Morning America in the video below.